Three Ram recalls affect more than a million pickups
Thu, Sep 10 2015
The largest of this trio covers 1.06 million examples in the US of the 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500, 3500, and chassis cab versions of the 3500, 4500, and 5500 because of potential inadvertent driver-side airbag deployment. In addition to those affected here, there are 235,925 in Canada, 26,543 in Mexico, and 23,635 elsewhere. There are also two related injures from this problem, but no reports of accidents, according to the company. While the recall was mysteriously ignored in the media at the time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced details of this campaign in late July.
The next largest among the three covers 188,000 examples of the 2014 and 2015 Ram 1500 Quad Cab in the US because their side-curtain airbags don't fully overlap the C-pillars when deployed, which is in violation of federal rules. Conceivably, rear passengers not wearing their seatbelt could be more likely to be ejected in a crash. Ram's repair for the issue is still being developed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the company advises all occupants to be buckled in.
The final campaign affects 156,498 the company's heavy-duty trucks in the US, including the 2013 Ram 3500 and 2014 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500 Chassis Cab. In addition, there are 20,603 in Canada and 3,241 elsewhere. Of the 13,236 in Mexico, a few units of the 2014 Ram 1500 exclusive to that market are also covered. The company found that the welds for some steering parts might have "insufficient fusion." If the part breaks, then vehicles are still controllable but with diminished response. There are no reported injuries but one minor accident. The fix involves installing a reinforcement bracket.
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Statement: Steering-wheel Wiring Harness
September 10, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is conducting a voluntary safety recall to inspect and service, as required, wiring harnesses in an estimated 1.06 million U.S.-market trucks.
Investigation by FCA US discovered certain trucks may have steering-wheel wiring harnesses that wear because of contact with a spring. Such wear may cause a short-circuit that may lead to inadvertent driver-side air-bag deployment.
The Company is aware of two related injuries, but no accidents. An analysis of warranty data linked to steering-wheel wiring harnesses determined less than one percent of all such repairs involved inadvertent air-bag deployment.
The condition, which may be signaled by illumination of the air-bag warning light, relates to vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) and may not be present in every vehicle subject to the recall. But FCA US will, at no charge to customers, inspect every affected vehicle and, as required, tie back its wiring harness and install protective caps on its air-bag retainer spring-ends.
Affected are certain model-year 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500 and 2500 pickups and 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Additional vehicles numbering approximately 235,925 in Canada; 26,543 in Mexico and 23,635 outside the NAFTA region, also will be recalled.
Notices are now being mailed to advise affected customers when they may schedule service. FCA US urges all customers to read their notices and respond accordingly.
Alternately, customers may visit http://recalls.mopar.com/ or https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ to determine if their vehicles are included in this campaign.
Customers with questions or concerns may call the FCA US Customer Care Center at 1-800-853-1403
Statement: Side-curtain Air-bag
September 10, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is recalling an estimated 188,000 trucks in the U.S. to make their side-curtain air-bags compliant with a federal regulation to reduce the risk of rear occupant ejection during a rollover.
The Company is unaware of any related injuries, accidents or complaints. And all FCA US vehicles are equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which reduces the risk of rollovers.
The recall involves model-year 2014 and 2015 Ram 1500 Quad Cab pickups. Affected owners will be advised when they may schedule service, which will be performed at no cost to them.
FCA US advises vehicle occupants to wear their seatbelts, as NHTSA and other safety advocates recommend for occupants of all vehicles.
Customers may also call the FCA US Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403.
RECALL Subject : Side Air Bag may Deploy Improperly
Report Receipt Date: AUG 21, 2015
NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V534000
Component(s): AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 188,047
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
RAM 1500 2014-2015
Details
Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
SUMMARY:
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ram 1500 Quad Cab trucks manufactured August 26, 2013, to August 8, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with side air bag inflatable curtains (SABIC) that may not fully overlap the C-pillars in the event of a vehicle crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
CONSEQUENCE:
In the event of a vehicle crash, if a SABIC does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury to the rear seat occupant.
REMEDY:
The remedy for this recall is still under development. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R47.
NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Bracket Welds
September 10, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is recalling an estimated 156,498 heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. to inspect and repair, as required, bracket welds that may lead to diminished steering response.
An investigation by FCA US discovered certain supplied steering components may have welds with insufficient fusion. This may lead to separation, which may affect steering; capability remains, but with diminished response.
The Company is unaware of any related injuries. FCA US is aware of a single minor accident related to the condition.
Affected are certain 2013 Ram 3500 pickups, 2014 Ram 2500/3500 pickups and 3500 Chassis Cabs. Additional vehicles, estimated to number 20,603 in Canada and 13,236 in Mexico, are also subject to recall. The Mexico population includes certain 2014 Ram 1500 pickups exclusive to that market.
An estimated 3,241 vehicles outside the NAFTA region also are affected.
Affected customers will be advised next month to contact their dealers and schedule an inspection. If warranted, the brackets will be repaired.
A second mailing will then advise customers to have their dealers install a reinforcement bracket, provided their vehicles were not repaired in the campaign's first phase. All service will be performed at no cost.
Customers with additional questions may call the FCA US Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403.
September 10, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is conducting a voluntary safety recall to inspect and service, as required, wiring harnesses in an estimated 1.06 million U.S.-market trucks.
Investigation by FCA US discovered certain trucks may have steering-wheel wiring harnesses that wear because of contact with a spring. Such wear may cause a short-circuit that may lead to inadvertent driver-side air-bag deployment.
The Company is aware of two related injuries, but no accidents. An analysis of warranty data linked to steering-wheel wiring harnesses determined less than one percent of all such repairs involved inadvertent air-bag deployment.
The condition, which may be signaled by illumination of the air-bag warning light, relates to vehicles equipped with an Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) and may not be present in every vehicle subject to the recall. But FCA US will, at no charge to customers, inspect every affected vehicle and, as required, tie back its wiring harness and install protective caps on its air-bag retainer spring-ends.
Affected are certain model-year 2012-2014 Ram 1500, 2500 and 2500 pickups and 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Additional vehicles numbering approximately 235,925 in Canada; 26,543 in Mexico and 23,635 outside the NAFTA region, also will be recalled.
Notices are now being mailed to advise affected customers when they may schedule service. FCA US urges all customers to read their notices and respond accordingly.
Alternately, customers may visit http://recalls.mopar.com/ or https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ to determine if their vehicles are included in this campaign.
Customers with questions or concerns may call the FCA US Customer Care Center at 1-800-853-1403
Statement: Side-curtain Air-bag
September 10, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is recalling an estimated 188,000 trucks in the U.S. to make their side-curtain air-bags compliant with a federal regulation to reduce the risk of rear occupant ejection during a rollover.
The Company is unaware of any related injuries, accidents or complaints. And all FCA US vehicles are equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which reduces the risk of rollovers.
The recall involves model-year 2014 and 2015 Ram 1500 Quad Cab pickups. Affected owners will be advised when they may schedule service, which will be performed at no cost to them.
FCA US advises vehicle occupants to wear their seatbelts, as NHTSA and other safety advocates recommend for occupants of all vehicles.
Customers may also call the FCA US Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403.
RECALL Subject : Side Air Bag may Deploy Improperly
Report Receipt Date: AUG 21, 2015
NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V534000
Component(s): AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 188,047
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
RAM 1500 2014-2015
Details
Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
SUMMARY:
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ram 1500 Quad Cab trucks manufactured August 26, 2013, to August 8, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with side air bag inflatable curtains (SABIC) that may not fully overlap the C-pillars in the event of a vehicle crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
CONSEQUENCE:
In the event of a vehicle crash, if a SABIC does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury to the rear seat occupant.
REMEDY:
The remedy for this recall is still under development. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R47.
NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Bracket Welds
September 10, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is recalling an estimated 156,498 heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. to inspect and repair, as required, bracket welds that may lead to diminished steering response.
An investigation by FCA US discovered certain supplied steering components may have welds with insufficient fusion. This may lead to separation, which may affect steering; capability remains, but with diminished response.
The Company is unaware of any related injuries. FCA US is aware of a single minor accident related to the condition.
Affected are certain 2013 Ram 3500 pickups, 2014 Ram 2500/3500 pickups and 3500 Chassis Cabs. Additional vehicles, estimated to number 20,603 in Canada and 13,236 in Mexico, are also subject to recall. The Mexico population includes certain 2014 Ram 1500 pickups exclusive to that market.
An estimated 3,241 vehicles outside the NAFTA region also are affected.
Affected customers will be advised next month to contact their dealers and schedule an inspection. If warranted, the brackets will be repaired.
A second mailing will then advise customers to have their dealers install a reinforcement bracket, provided their vehicles were not repaired in the campaign's first phase. All service will be performed at no cost.
Customers with additional questions may call the FCA US Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403.
By Chris Bruce
See also: Ram recalling 1,747 diesel trucks for short-circuit risk, Auto Mergers and Acquisitions: Suicide or salvation?, FCA recalls over 200k Jeep Cherokees for windshield wiper static.